Special Events - Features

Recommendation R1/3/00 — Director of Television
The ABC Advisory Council has received positive feedback about initiatives such as showing the movie Gallipoli in conjunction with Remembrance Day and the documentary Three Minutes to Glory in conjunction with the Paralympics. The ABC Advisory Council commends the showing of feature length films and documentaries to coincide with special events.

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News and Current Affairs

Recommendation R2/3/00 - Director of News and Current Affairs
The ABC ABC Advisory Council notes the high quality broadcasting of News and Current Affairs around Australia. The Council supports and understands the importance of the ABC not only being independent but also being "perceived" as independent.

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AM and PM

Recommendation R3/3/00 - Director of News and Current Affairs
The ABC Advisory Council supports strongly the current length of these programs and recognises their role and importance in the lives of the majority of Australians.

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Scose Report

Recommendation R4/3/00 - Director of Radio, Director of Television and Director of News & Current Affairs
The ABC Advisory Council would like to see greater attention by presenters be given to the SCOSE report.

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Radio - Rural Areas

Recommendation R5/3/00 - Director of Radio
The ABC Advisory Council notes the importance of access by people in rural and regional areas to radio programs in particular, as many of these areas do not have ready access to newspapers or other forms of information.

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Nurses

Recommendation R6/3/00 - Director of Television
The ABC Advisory Council recommends that in light of the success and positive feedback about Nurses the ABC could look at similar programs filmed along the same lines which follow other occupations.

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Series on 'moral dilemas'

Recommendation R7/3/00 - Director of Television and Director of Program Content and Development
The ABC Advisory Council recommends ABC television look at presenting a series which deals with "moral dilemmas" in practical real life situations covering ethical, social and cultural dilemmas facing people in various areas - for example: the law, health, education, ageing etc. Council also suggests an online forum to follow such programs.

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ABC Communication

Recommendation R8/3/00 - Director of Television
The ABC Advisory Council discussed the need for the ABC to be a better communicator both internally and externally. Reference was made to programs such as Backchat and the segment on NewsRadio which informed people about the ABC. The ABC Advisory Council recommends that the ABC explore the possibility of segments explaining what the ABC does. This could also include a segment on audience feedback and information about what the ABC has to offer, along the lines of that which was on NewsRadio. The segment could also include SCOSE issues and provide an explanation of ABC issues.

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ABC Marketing

Recommendation R9/3/00 - Director of Program Content and Development
The ABC Advisory Council recommends that ABC marketing look at different ways to inform people about ABC programs and services, an example could be to focus on little known ABC programs and audiences such as teachers for Behind the News and the publicising of ABC call signs instead of promotions.

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Paralympic Coverage

Recommendation R10/3/00 - Director of Radio and Director of Television
The ABC Advisory Council commends ABC Radio for its coverage of the Paralympic Games and particularly Karen Tighe for her performance. However, the Council was disappointed at the lack of television coverage particularly in light of the large audiences. Council recommends that the ABC look at more flexible ways of responding to audiences.

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Triple J Local Presenters

Recommendation R11/3/00 - Director of Radio
The ABC Advisory Council recommends that Triple J have a local presenter in each State for the 6-10pm timeslot, this would allow a focus on the State music and cultural scene and would incorporate local presenters.

This would also allow for greater audience participation in quizzes etc.

This recommendation will be followed up in the report by the ABC Advisory Council Youth Subcommittee.

Behind the News

The ABC Advisory Council commends the Behind the News program, the value it brings to schoolchildren and its popularity. It would be good to see this program used in a later afternoon "after school" time-slot.

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Chequerboard Revisited

The ABC Advisory Council commends Chequerboard Revisited as an example of an interesting and effective use of ABC material placing issues in a current context.

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Overseas Correspondents

The ABC commends the dedication and commitment of ABC overseas correspondents, particularly those presently covering the Middle East in the current outbreaks. Ben Wilson’s reports on AM give an example of some of the challenging aspects of being a reporter.

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Sunday Night Line-Up

The ABC Advisory Council commends the Sunday night line-up which provides entertaining viewing.

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abcXchange

The ABC Advisory Council commends ABC X-Change for the timely and interesting information provided about ABC people and ABC programs.

• Ms Deborah Klika (Convenor)
• Ms Anita Turner
• Mr Jeff Heath
• Mrs Carole Miller
• Sir John Yocklunn
• Mr Ryan Honschooten
• Mr Steven Mavrigiannakis
• Dr Edmund Sweeney
• Ms Francesca Beddie
• Mrs Lorna Condie
• Mrs Rosemary Champion
• Ms Nicholas Moraitis